Becoming The Muse

Coffee with Cup Clash

If you were having coffee with me, I would welcome you to my tangle of words and ask you to make yourself at home, serve yourself, the water is boiled… I just had a random memory of drinking tea from a trophy back in school after we came first in a High School Quiz tournament…  fun times.

Speaking of trophies, over the weekend, there was the 2024 Zimbabwe Cup Clash battle at the City Sports Centre, where one lady and one gentleman got the coveted honour of being the crowned the best Zimdancehall chanter. Over 50 participants battled while a jam-packed crowd decided who went on to the next round.

The event, organised by Partson “Chipaz” Chimbodza, featured a line-up of top Zimdancehall artistes and local DJs entertaining the audience. The winners in the men’s category was Libho while Madzimai I-Candy took the cup in the ladies category.

Zim dancehall music which sprung from influences in Jamaican dancehall is a popular genre and you will find it topping Zimbabwean music charts. The music resonates with many a youth, it provides a way to escape, offering a creative outlet to release pent up emotion and for some it’s a shot at fame and opportunities. Events such as this play a role in showcasing upcoming talent and for those who show they have what it takes, it’s a stepping stone to grander stages.

If you were having coffee with me, I would tell you that not enough stakeholders are invested in events such as the cup clash which has potential to be something similar to Idols, The Voice  or the Got Talent series…

I don't know who Primus Energy Corporation are but they are doing the Lord's work in coverage of the cup clash… they got the best sound if you want and organised🏆 pic.twitter.com/eYEnCZPKQo

— ~B 🇿🇼 (@Beatonm5) September 1, 2024

On the other hand some of the acts leave a lot of questions as to the sobriety of the participants as it also seem the music promotes the drug culture. The were several jokes on social media on how everyone at Cup Clash would need to be taken to rehab soon as the event ended.

Speaking about trophies, the power utility company ZESA was named the best overall winner in the Energy sector at the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show 2024 awards.

Given the current electricity situation, its unsurprising that people found this win akin to rubbing salt into a wound. ZESA did however share an informative visual as to why the electricity generation at the Kariba Dam is low and one can see the dam will soon not have enough live water for electricity generation…

As usual people like to joke and some were laughing at how maybe the award should be for being the best at Load-shedding.. I wanted to make a dark humour joke about the electricity situation but I am afraid its too dark.

Cities of the world at night
Miami
London
Harare pic.twitter.com/TEEbpOkYVg

— ~B 🇿🇼 (@Beatonm5) August 26, 2024

If you were having coffee with me, I would tell you that the government introduced a new statutory instrument which provides for the mandatory blending of anhydrous ethanol with unleaded petrol…. Which effectively bans the sale of unleaded fuel.

Some speculate that this move is to protect the business interests of those involved in the blending process. Blending is supposed to make the fuel more affordable but ironically our locally blended fuel costs more than the regional average price of unleaded fuel.. Everything just seems more expensive here, should you decide to get your passport and leave, those cost close to $200 while in our neighbouring countries they cost way under $50.. How much does your passport cost to get?

If you were having coffee with me I would tell you that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson, Justice Priscilla Chigumba was involved in accident but escaped unhurt. Some identify her as the face responsible for the election results and have been generally unsympathetic, addressing more concern to the trees, grass and car than to her, with some even wishing she had not survived….

But hey its not all bad, the last episode of The Grand Tour series was shot in Zimbabwe and in the words of Jeremy Clarkson, they saved the best for last… The episode air on Amazon on the 13th of September 2024 and after 22 years of running, its the end of an era.

In an interesting turn of events a model who was forced to withdraw out of Miss Universe South Africa amidst a citizenship saga, identity fraud scandal and xenophobic undertones due to her Nigerian heritage was crowned as Miss Universe Nigeria 2024. Sometimes one gets their crown against all odds.

Whats been going on in your neck of woods?

~B